Instrumental music of Ján Levoslav Bella

Disclaimer: This book is written in Slovak. The following is an English translation of the summary text from the cover.

A native of Liptovský Mikuláš, Ján Levoslav Bella (1843–1936) represents the first composer in the history of Slovak music who actively engaged with the musical culture of his time—sacred, secular, and theatrical. Thanks to his long life and tireless productivity, he left behind a large body of works across all genres.

Ján Bella (Belya, 1807–1870), the father of Ján Levoslav, was an organist in Liptovský Sv. Mikuláš and ensured that his eldest son gained early experience in church music—singing, playing the organ, and violin. In 1853, during confirmation ceremonies, Spiš bishop Ladislav Zábojský (1793–1870) noticed the ten-year-old violinist and agreed with the boy’s parents to support his education. That autumn, Ján began his studies at the grammar school in Levoča.

In his third year, he met Czech philologist and music enthusiast Leopold Dvořák, who also led the school orchestra. Under Dvořák’s influence, Bella immersed himself in orchestral life, eager to learn all instruments, basso continuo, conducting, and composition. Dvořák became his godfather during confirmation on June 1, 1857, and Bella adopted his name—later using it in both the original and Slovakized form (Levoslav).

Dvořák’s school orchestra in Levoča was the first ensemble that truly captivated young Bella. After transferring to Banská Bystrica for his seventh year of grammar school (1859–1860), he composed an “instrumental mass, which was performed with great success in the cathedral.” However, he may have only heard a true orchestral sound after arriving in Vienna in September 1863, where he entered the Jesuit Pázmáneum seminary and studied under Simon Sechter.